greytdogsks

Well, for me, housebreaking 101: If/when I will be leaving them - they go out immediately before I leave. Might need to go out with him/them to witness them actually 'going'. When I come home, they go out immediately and directly. While I did still slip up on occasion with my girl, it became more and more rare that I screwed up on my side .. Basically, all the rest of the time, I either have the dog leashed to me so they can't 'sneak' off or behind a chair or couch .. or I don't let myself get so distracted as to not notice if the dog gets up/moves around. When the dog gets up when leashed or being observant, ask if they need to go out (or whatever word/phrase you choose to use), then take them out. Then, any and every time they potty outside, treat/reward/praise them for doing the 'right' thing - even at the above leaving or coming home times. A big part of it is being observant enough to set the dog up for success and rewarding that. If/when she brings Miles to your house, just don't let him off his leash in the house, period --- and/or bellyband him. I knew my girl was also absolutely a marker. So, when I had her at someone else's house, I kept her on leash unless I had panties on her. THough, even with the panties, I would watch closely to try to head off any marking. If we were staying with someone, she would have to wear the panties for possibly several days before I felt she had settled in enough to go without. Here is one, sort of humorous, story about my marker girl. It did take, I think, visiting 2 houses for me to 'know' my girl. Well, I took my 2 girls, at the time, to another friend's house. It was my/our first time to visit her house, so first, I had failed to have panties on hand for my girl, so she was going to have to stay on leash. She was showing me around the house, and indeed, it was a bit cumbersome to have my one girl on leash with 3 or 4 other dogs loose, trying to go through doorways. She kept telling me to let her off the leash. I kept refusing. Eventually, I gave in .. which I KNEW better! I bet it was within moments of me releasing her, she went right over to her nice 'oriental' rug promptly marked it. I looked at my friend said that is why I didn't want to let her loose! I listened to myself better from then on! But again, it's mostly being observant and setting them up for success.

Someone earlier mentioned what she is standing on when you are trying to have her get/jump in the car.. I had a girl who would quite willingly jump in the car (I have a SUV, so it was a bit higher). But, as she got older, one time her feet slipped a little on my smooth concrete garage floor as she was jumping in, causing her to 'miss' a little... and it scared her. After that, when she was on that smooth floor, she was reluctant. She would do it, with my encouragement and I learned to stand right by her to help her on in if she slipped. At my mother's, I would get a rubber backed throw rug and put it where she could use it and it helped. She also didn't like anything too close behind her when trying to jump, I guess she felt it was in her way. Just a couple more thoughts... Right now I have 3 who won't jump in the car.. >sigh<

I'm "late to the party" as usual but ... there was a question earlier regarding having difficulty potty training 9 months after adoption ... One of my experiences: I had off and on issues with one of my girls for about her first 2 years. First, she didn't give any obvious (to me initially) signal when she needed to go out - so it was up to ME to watch her very closely 100% of the time so I could learn her signal and get her outside and get her to associate me saying 'outside' with what she needed to do .... She was one who would get up an pace/move around, so, if you weren't 'in tune' with her, you could easily miss/overlook this signal. So, Miles owner needs to be super observant, even at home, to be sure she's not just missing something... since you said he is having accidents at home. If necessary, she needs to keep him leashed at home so she can catch him before the accident happens. This same girl, for me, also took a while to understand that she needed to 'hold it' until I got her signal - though there comes a time that no one can hold it any longer if the dog is being ignored. She would get up and pace/move around, I would miss this signal, then she would just 'go'. So, it took me first being more observant and never, NEVER letting her out of my sight when I was home so I could see this signal and get her out before an accident happened, then it took her understanding that she needed to hold it and let me know 'again' that she needed something. Eventually, she would still initially just get up and move around, if I didn't happen to notice that, she would come over and intently stare at me. Then, when I would ask if she needed to go out, she would bounce, get excited and wag her tail. But this took close to 2 years for us to fully understand each other. Ruling out medical issues is very important, because if it is a medical issue, it needs to be resolved. But being super observant and going back to house training 101 might be helpful since she's not wanting to go further medically at this time.

I've been watching him ... wish they would have had a webcam way back (2001) when I was taking my first greyhound to day care.. . Wonder if they put something softer on a cot if he'd be more likely to lay down ... don't know if mine would either, but guessing, as 'spoiled' as MINE are, they would probably think that the bare cot was just to 'hard' !

I am so very, very sorry. I grasp what you are saying about taking most of your heart yet still being here and being numb but feeling so much pain. I felt very similar when I lost my girl on the 11th. Waterproof hasn't roo'd, but she has been a bit lost and more whiny. Hugs to you heart ....

I'm so very sorry Robin. Run free beautiful girl ...

I'm so very sorry .... Hugs to you all ...

I really don't have any advice or ... whatever, just going to ask a couple of questions to compare to the way one of my girls reacts at different times... First--- has he always only met unknown little dogs while wearing a muzzle before? You said he met the teacup yorkie while wearing a muzzle .... (this is just a curiosity question)... Second -- and I think I saw the answer in another of your replies, but I'm going to ask to be sure ---- was this puppy last night on the ground walking or being carried? This one I ask because .... I had my girls at an event. Someone was there with an Italian greyhound and a little white poodle (I think it was a toy, but can't remember for sure). While one of my girls was sorta curious about them, she wasn't OVERLY curious or excited to get to them until the owner picked the poodle up --- then she wanted it. She did this to me when I first got her and was introducing her to my then cats ... when I picked the cat up ... she lunged, prior to that, only mild curiosity. My GUESS is that when the poodle (and the cat) was picked up, she maybe thought it was a toy or something so she wanted it --- sometimes when I pick up her toys she tends to lunge for them. Whatever the 'reason' for more curiosity ... others with much more knowledge have given what sounds like good advice.. always better to be safe than sorry !

My only experience with this is with my second greyhound.. not a retired racer, has a whole story behind her but ... when I first got her, many times, for no apparent reason, she would scream. I would run to check on her and she would just look at me like 'what?'. If anyone would gently touch her collar, like to try to get her up (or off the couch or whatever) to go out or something, she would SCREAM. The vet's suggested she not be adopted out because she was such a risk to bite. They muzzled her to draw blood for heartworm test, etc. Well, before too long, I 'learned' her ... and didn't react anymore. The most obvious thing I did ... I put my thumb and finger in a circle around her leg .. not touching her at all. She screamed and turned her head towards me as if to threaten to bite. When she saw I wasn't going to react, she stopped. So, I tightened the circle enough to just touch her leg. Scream, etc. again, yet, I didn't move... That was pretty much the last time she tried it on me. Except when it came to clipping nails --- I couldn't get that done because she would jerk away at the same time. However, she kept pretty much everyone else she was ever around or who kept her for me on occasion bamboosled! I friend was even 'afraid' to keep her for me she had the friend so spooked by the screaming! Can't speak for Slayer, but could try something like I did to see how she reacts.

I did, though, I admit that it ended up being an incorrect diagnosis. Before bringing the dog home, I talked to the vet several times about the situation and how things might progress and ways I could deal with things. It could have been quite a challenge, but I couldn't let him stay in the kennel with me thinking/imagining him possibly suffering alone then dying alone. But, as first mentioned, luckily it was an incorrect diagnosis and while I did bring the dog home to die in my home .... it wasn't a matter of months, it was just shy of,, darn, I'm having a challenge remembering what year I brought him home... I know it was February, just before his March birthday .. I think it was 2004. I lost him December 2009, just shy of his 6th gotcha day with me... thankfully the vet was WAY wrong with the diagnosis.

I used a belly band with an incontinence pad in it for my boy. He wore it pretty much all the time because he was very unpredictably incontinent ... he never seemed to mind it at all. I just changed it when it was wet and would wipe him off, just like a baby. Wish girls were so easy to handle in this way!

I'm so very sorry.... Hugs to your heart...

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Run free beautiful boy....

Others may have more/better info, but here is this link ... http://www.greythealth.com/lumbosacral.html

It sounds much like how my mother's boy's legs acted when he had LS ... Though, he could manage to take care of his 'business' on his own... but .. if he stood still too long, his legs would just sorta sink. As long as he was moving - even trotting at times - he seemed to be ok. Just couldn't seem to hold himself up if he stood still. He did get the depo shots on occasion and they seemed to help some for a while. Hopefully it will be something similar and nothing more serious with Norm. Good luck .. hugs to all...

I've used the generic coated low dose - 81mg before... but wow .. splitting that~ Ok, thanks... I'll check. If she did have a stroke -- it was sometime in the night I'm guessing because she was 'fine' when we went to bed and displayed this behavior when we got up around 5am. She seemed 'fine' at 7am .... and my neighbor said, to her, she seemed slow - to get up from laying down, but otherwise ok.

The thought of possibly a stroke (mild stroke - are there 'degrees' of stroke?) entered my mind ... and I will see if I can talk to one of my vet people soon ... Thank you. She doesn't currently get any aspirin -- but I will look into that - regular aspirin? What MG for the 1/4 dose? In the past for various reasons I've used ascriptin ... also low dose aspirin (81mg)... (though, if she's getting this will it in any way effect or cause a problem if/when I give her a tramadol for her occasional spinal/back pain? hopefully it doesn't happen anymore, but one never knows) Not working from home today - I did text the lady who lets the girls out for me to be sure to let me know if anything doesn't seem right - though when I left for work Nutty seemed pretty much back to 'normal'. I haven't heard back from my neighbor at all, so we'll see. I do work from home tomorrow however ... Thanks.

This is about my Nutty girl .... She has been having some spine/lower back issues and we've begun treating them with chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. While she is still, on occasion, having some discomfort, it isn't nearly as sever or frequent. I'm trying to do some massage on her on occasion also. Early this morning, with our first 'out' of the day and breakfast, she displayed some unusual behavior for her -- nothing 'dramatic' to take off to the e-vet or anything, and she did seem better when we got up an hour+ later for me to get ready for work, but I'll try to explain the best I can to get your thoughts on what to watch for and maybe what to 'do' if it continues ... as of this moment, I'm in a just watch and see mode.. We got up and headed to the door to go out. She was a bit behind, but frequently she HAS to go get a toy to carry to the door, so I didn't think anything of it. However, she is usually right AT the door to go out - to the point that I have to be really careful opening the door because I don't want to scrape across the tops of her feet. This morning she was standing back just a bit and when I opened the door, it was almost like she didn't know what to do. She was standing and looking at me, so I gently put my hand on her head/neck and directed her around the door to go out .. and she did. I'm a bad mom I suppose, but I didn't watch them in the yard (in part, early morning is dark and I can't really see them!).. I fixed their breakfast, put their bowls in their places and let the girls in. they usually run right to their bowls. Waterproof did, but Nutty didn't and seemed a bit .... lost ? She was just standing there. So, initially I thought maybe she was hurting again and wouldn't go stand still to eat. I told her it was OK and directed her to her bowl. She still just seemed lost and didn't even move to try to eat. So, I picked up her bowl and showed it to her. Took just a second, but finally she started lapping at it (I put yogurt and a lot of water on it, so there is liquid to drink off). I tried to slowly move the bowl to her eating place .. but she just stopped eating. Finally, I just held the bowl but noticed that she was just licking and licking in absolutely only 1 spot. If I turned the bowl in a circle, she would lick around, but always just 1 spot.. if I tried to move the bowl so she would lick in the center where the food was piled, she would just move her head to lick the curve of the bowl in that one spot. Eventually I tipped the bowl so the kibble would slide down and she did eat everything but about 5 - 6 pieces of kibble. I felt like she was going a bit of turning to the left -- not spinning or extremely noticeable, but whenever she turned around it was to the left. After they ate, I went on to do what I needed to do then I laid back down for a bit. Usually she follows me into the bathroom -- but today it almost seemed she waited on Waterproof to finish and followed her back to the bedroom. She laid down and we slept for another hour or so. After we got back up, there was one point she was laying there and I could hear her doing a really high pitched 'thin' whine. I went and comforted her and she seemed to be better. I finished getting ready for work then we headed back out to go outside again. She grabbed a toy per usual and came right to the door. She seemed to be OK outside and went potty a time or 2 ... and came right back in. I still feel like there is a very slight left tendency -- though, at this point it may just be me.... She was never panty, panicky, freaked out or seeming stressed in any way... At one point, for a VERY short moment, the way she was staring and almost seemed to not know where she was - I wondered if she could see ... but figured she's be showing signs of stress/panic if that were the case .. She just turned 11 in December but other than getting up slower and the pain in her spine now, I don't think you'd ever guess she was that 'old' ... I'm not in panic mode myself yet, but am alerted and a bit concerned .. at this moment in time I don't really think there is an immediate need to see a vet ... but any thoughts on anything else to watch for ... what might be going on? If I should take her to the vet .. what should I have them check/do ... ??? Thanks

I am so sorry about your Hailey. What a beautiful tribute...and a wonderful life... Hugs to you and your family...

Hmm, I clicked on Valerie's Greyhound Data link and it went straight to the page with his info.... interesting!

I'm so very sorry to hear about Hot Rod. Run free beautiful boy ... you will be forever missed....

I am so very sorry .... no matter how long they are here, it's never long enough. My heart breaks with yours... I am selfishly so glad I got to briefly meet her in person. What a sweetie. She will be so greatly missed by so many, she touched so many hearts with her zest for life. Hugs to you all ....

I'm so very sorry ......

I will be watching this closely -- because I have had the same question. One of my girls, who will be 11 in December, needs to learn this also. I taught both of my girls how to do stairs, thus, they were taught the same way, but Waterproof will nicely walk up the steps but Nutty, not so much! It has caused her to be afraid of open back steps because she slid off and degloved a part of her leg a couple of years ago. And, trying to help her up the steps, she pushes back against me so hard that her front feet then slip off the steps and she does what she's afraid of doing --- slips between the steps. We don't even approach the open back steps anymore. But, if there is a way to teach them to walk, I will give it a try. Though, I'm afraid it's not possible .. at least not with Nutty. I'm thinking I will have to stay out of the basement from now on (about 13 - 15 steps -- NOT open back, but not sure how much longer she will bound up them .. though also, if her backend gets weak, she might not be able to walk up them either) ... and I am realizing I'm going to have to finally figure out how to make a ramp a friend made me several years ago a bit more dog friendly (not slick and maybe have to give subtle light at night) and actually use it with her on the deck (only 3 steps but she won't come up them, she just has to jump)... Anyway .. I'll also be watching for answers!